Device for expanding the uppers of boots and shoes



(Model.)

o. L. HIGGINS. l 'DEVICE FOB. EXPANDING THB UPPERS 01El BOOTS'AND SHOES.

No. 4291.188. Patented Jan. 1,1884.

Fig'- 5- INV ENTER Fig- 5 WITNEEEEEJ even fplly expanding it. `ment of these two side portions, as the form is l Nrrnn;

'rains 'Arne-Nr Price..

CHARLES L. HIGGINS, OF MONTRAL, QUEBEC, CANADA, ASSIGNOR- TO JOHN E. VHEELER, TRUSTEE, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

DEVICE FOR EXPANDlNG THE UPPERS OF BOOTS AND SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 291,188, dated January l, 1884.

Application filed October To all, whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. Hicerns, of ilontreal, in the Province of Quebec, Canada, a subject of Victoria, Queen ot' Great Britain, &c., have invented a new and useful Improve-v ment in Devices for Expanding the Uppers ot' Boots and Shoes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part of' this specification, in explaining` its nature.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my iinprovenient. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a cross-section upon the line X X of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the form upon the linedT Y of Fig. 2, and also showing a shoe in cross-section and the relation of the form thereto before it is expanded. Fig. 5 shows in cross-section a shoe and the forni expanded therein.

This invention consists in an iniatable form or device, of flexible and, preferably, elastic material, adapted to be inserted into a boot or shoe, and to be expanded or inated therein, and thereby give shape and form to the upperleather surrounding it. This form'or device has its lower surface made like an inverted V-that is, instead of being straight across, it is extended upward wellinto the center of the form, and this upward extension of the bottom divides the form into two side portions, which, upon the infiation of the form, are moved outward from each other, because the fold in or extension of the bottom provides for the extension of the form in a lateral direction at a less amount of pressure than is required for distending the materiahot the form, lor for This outward moveexpanded, continues until they come in contact with the sides of the article to which they give forni, and'thus provide not only means whereby one form is made adjustable to severalsizes, but also a feature which is very essential for causing uppers to assume their proper shape.

In a pending application I have described an inflatable device or form for this purpose having a straight bottoni, and I have found that, upon inflating it within a bootor shoe, as it expands its tendency is to lift the central portion of the upper from the toe to the instep from the sole and somewhat draw in the side portions of the upper, and that it does not accurately reproduce the shape of the last for which the upper was cut and upon which it was fitted, nor the shape of the foot. This result occurs because the device, upon expansion, takes very nearly a cylindrical form, and, bearing against the sole along the center of its width, presses upwardly therefrom against the median line of the upper from the toe to the instep, while the sideV portions of the upper along the edge of the sole are not acted upon or lled out.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the flexible forni. It may be made of rubber, in which'event it will be elastic; or it may be made of any other flexible air-tight material. I prefer, however, that the form be made of rubber, because it is not only flexible and air` tight, but also elastic, and can be cheaply made to any desired form or shape. The under surface of the form, extended upward, as represented at a in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5, forms the side portion, a a'; and the object of this construction is twofold: first, to cause the foi-1n, when inflated, to properly expand the upper of the boot or shoe by bearing against the side portions thereof with substantially the same or more force than it bears against the top, so that the upper shall be forced to take the form of the last upon which it was made; and, second, to provide means of adjustment'whereby one form can be used for several sizes of shoe. It has a tube, b, by which the air for inflation is introduced, and this tube may have a cock or clamping device of any kind for stopping the passage therein. By making the forni in this manner its sides can be foldedtogetherinto small compass, and it can also be more easily inserted in place. Upon the beginning-of the iniiation the side parts of the form are moved outwardly against the sides of the upper, andthe first pressure that is exerted upon the sides of the upper is along these lines, and from them the pressure extends upwardl y as the form is gradually inflated or filled to the top. Consequently the sides of the upl elainl und desire to secure by Letters Patent per are distended uniformly with the top, and of the United Statesthe upper takes; the form of thc last 0n which y A device for giving forni 0r shape t0 :i hoot 15 it was innde. l 0r Shoe upper 0r other ilexible hollow article, Vhile I have represented u construction 0f E having the general shape 0f theintcriorofsuch i'orin adapted to be used in Connection with L article, capable ofinlation, :1nd provided with the uppers of boots und shoes, I Would state un inward-extending fold, a, ull substantially that its principle may he applied to any other l :is und for the purpose described.

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iniiutable l'orni where it is desired to obtain a CHARLES L. 'UTGGINS 1o perfect fitting ol' the forni t0 the article" that l Timessesz surrounds il'. 5 F. F. RAYMONU, Qd,

Having thus i'ullx'desrfrihed my inventionn l l FRED. HARRIS. 

